Collapsible-tube-closing machine



T. L. HARRISON. COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CLOSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG I, 1921.

1 ,425.,96 1 Patented Aug. 15, '1922.

2 SHEETS-'SHEET 1.

T. L. HARRISON.

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE;CLOS|NG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ, 1921.

Patenfied Aug. 15, 1922.

gran star sa'rssror THOMAS L. HARRISON, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

oo LArsIBLn-mmnomsme MACHINE.

specification ofLetters Patent, I Patgnted Aug;.15,l1922 Application filed August 1, 1921. Serial No. 488,837.

To all whom it may con-067% Be it known that I. THOMAS L. I'IARRISON,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Collapsible- Tube-Closing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for closing the rear initially open ends of collapsible tubes, such as those in which tooth paste and other paste of plastic products are sold.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a machine which is capable of more rapid operation than machines of similar character heretofore, as far as I aware,

constructed, so that a greater number of tubes may be closed inany given period of time than previously has been practical.

A further object of the invention is to simplify the construction of the machine to thereby enable its manufacture at a substantial reduction in cost.

To these and other ends, the invention comprehends the construction as hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawings in which I have illustrated one form I of construction embodying said invention.v

It will be understood, however, that changes in the details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in vertical section and partly in front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view in s1de elevation of the machine, looking toward the left in Figs. 1

ingsd are provided at intervals which open;

ings are provided with shoulders 5 adjacent their lower ends. The top ends of the col lapsible tubes, that is to say, the ends with the removable caps thereon are inserted with-- in these holes or openings and are supported therein, as indicated in Fig; 2 of the drawings. The tubes, the rear ends of which are to be closed, are. placed in position. within these openings andare conveyed by the revoluble carrier 3 into position between the clamping jaws of the machine which will be hereinafter referred to and describedlf -The revoluble carrier 3 is provided upon lts lower side with a beveled gear 8 with which the beveled pinion 9'is in engagement, asshown in Fig. 2 of'the drawings. The said beveled pinion 9 is supported upon the 1nner end of a shaft 10, the latter being supported upon bearings, one of whichis shown at 11. The outer end of thesh'aft 1O is provided with a ratchet wheel 12with the teeth of which-a paw-1 13 is adapted to sue v cessively engage. The said'paw-l'is' carried by a projection 14 near the lower end portlon of a link'15.I The lower" end portion of thesaid link is provided with aslot 16 through which a headed pin 17 projects, the

said link being adapted to slide backand,

forth upon] the said pinlZ. Theupper end' of the link is connected'to' a pin 20 which projects outwardly from the outer side'of'. the gear wheel 21 which isiin engagement with a pi'nion'gear 22 upon a shaft% upon one end of which a band wheel'24e is secured. The said band wheel 24 and consequently shaft 23 is driven bv means of a belt 25" from a source of power (not shown).- Thegear- 21 is supported upon ast'ud 28. projecting outwardly from a plate-like portion which extends upwardly from thebase per tion 1 and constitutes what maybe regarded as a part of t of'the machine.

Upon the rotation of the shaft23, the gear shaft 23. The rotation of the gear 21 causes 21 is driven by the gear'QEZupon the, said he frame supporting structure reciprocating movement of the "link; 15.,

Such reciprocating movement causes the pawl 13;. to successively engage the teeth upon the ratchet 12. As the pawl 13 is moved upwardly by the link 15 it'travels' over the outer ends of the saidv teeth, but

when the said link starts its downward movement, the pawl engages one of the teeth succeeding that with which it, was formerly engaged and causes rotatlon of the said ratchet wheel and of the shaft/10. through i i a single step, the distance corresponding to the distance between the ratchet teetln, Such movement of the rat'chet'wheel of the" lot the outer end portion of the jaw shaft 10 causes a step by step movement of the revoluble carrier 3. The distance through which the latter may be caused to move at each step may be controlled by the ratio between the number of teeth upon the beveled pinion gear 9 and the beveled gear 8. The shaft 23 is supported in bearings 30 upon the upwardly extending plate-like portion 29.

For the purpose of closing the rear initially open ends of the collapsible tubes which are carried upon'the revoluble carrier 3, I have provided co-operating clamping jaws 31 and 32, the first of which is supported between laterally and forwardly extending projections 33, two of which are situated. above and two below the same. Retaining plates 34 are secured to the outer ends of these projections for retaining the jaw 31 in position between the upper and lower projections.

The jaw 32 is supported within a guide or housing 41 formed upon a bracket 42 pro jecting forwardly from the plate-like p0 tion 29 and is provided upon its opposite sides with grooves 42 into which extend projections 43 from the opposite sides of the said housing. The jaw 32 is provided with a recess 44 the top side of which is open. A slide plate 45 extends across the upper or top side of the recess 44 and its opposite edges are supported upon shoulders upon the top side of the jaw 32 at the opposite sides of the said recess, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The said slide plate 45 is retained in position upon the said shoulders by means of holdingor locking plates 48 secured to the top side of the said jaw upon opposite sides of the recess 44. The inner edges of these plates 48 overlie the outer edges of the slide plate 45. The slidev plate 45 is provided with a projection 50 which extends into the recess 44. Int'erposed between said projection and the inner end of the recess 44 is a coiled spring 51 which is under tension and tends to hold the slide plate 45 in its outermost position with the opposite side of the projection 50 in contact with an adjustable abutment screw 52 having adjustable connection with The said slide plate 45 is also provided with an upwardly extending projection 53 which is pivotally connected at 54 with the lower side of a turning lever 55. The connection at 54 is situated at a point relatively near the outer end of the turning lever 55. For the purpose of effecting reciprocating move 'ments of the jaws 31 and 32, I have provided the levers and 61 both of which are pivoted at their upper ends, as indicated at 62, to the upper end portion of the platelike member 29. Intermediate their ends,

. the levers 60 and 61 are each provided with inwardly extending projections having rolls thereon, as indicated at 63, which project into and engage the cam slots 64 and 65 upon the cam members 66 and 67 which are secured upon the shaft 23. The lower end of the lever 60 is pivotally connected di rectly, with the clamping jaw 31, as indicated at 70. The lower end of the lever 61 is connected to the turning lever or arm 55 at a point above the pivot 54, as is indicated at 71. It will be apparent that as the shaft 23, together *ith the cam members 66 and 67, are rotated. the levers 60 and 61 are oscillated to cause rectilinear reciprocating movement of the clamping jaws 31 and 32.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings, the clamping jaws are shown in separated position with the unclosed end of a collapsible tube in position between the inner opposing ends thereof. In Figs. 2 and 5, the jaws are shown in position with the upper rear end portion of the tube clamped between the same and flattened. It will be noted that the cam groove 64 is so shaped that as the cam member 66 continues its rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon from the position shown in Fig. 2, the aw 31 will be retained in stationary position, but the cam groove 65 for operating the jaw 32 is so shaped that corresponding rotation of the cam member 67 causes continued inward movement of the lower end portion of the lever 61 which causes inward movement of the tube turning arm 55 and with it the slide plate 45 in opposition to the tension of the spring 51. At such time, further inward movement of the jaw 32 is prevented by reason. of the fact that the inner end of the adjustable abutment screw 73, which has screw threaded adjustable connection with a projection 74 which extends downwardly from the outer end of the said jaw 32 contacts with the outer side or edge of the bracket 42. I

The further inward movement of the slide 45 and of the turning lever 55 indeoendently of the jaw 32 causes the end of the downwardly extending portion 75 at the inner end of the lever 55 to contact with the flat tened portion 76 of the collapsible tube which projects above the top sides of the jaws 31 and 32 to bend the same over upon the jaw 31, as shown in Fig. 6. Immediately following this occurrence, the cam groove 64 in the cam member 66 causes outward movement of the jaw 31 into the position indicated in Fig. 7. By means of the pressure of the spring 51 against the slide plate 45 and by reason. of the pivotal connection between the latter and the lever 55, the latter is turned about its pivot so that the inner end thereof is lowered from the position shown in 6 to that shown in Fig. 7, to bend the flattened end portion 76 of the tube downwardly, as indicated in said Fig. 7, with a surface thereof in contact withthe inclined'surface 78 :upon the underthe combination of rigid rectilinearly movside'oif the downwardly projecting portion A i 0 01, the turning lever 05. Immediately following this occurrence, the cam groove 65 in thecam member 67 causes outward movement of the lever 61, the first effect of which is to cause the slideplate 45 to move outwardly so as to. bringthe projection 55.

result that the clamping jaw 32 remains in the positlon in which it 1s shown 111 Fig.

i v s Crcmv- .ivvr Tl e re 1011 outwa l o ement loi e e of the lever 61 has caused the turning lever '55,-to return to the position in which it is Immediately shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. upon the 'return of the lever 55 from the position shown, in Fig. 7 to that shown in Figs. 2, 1, 5 and 8, the cam which controls the lever .60 causes inward movement there-.

of to press the clamping aw 31 against the downwardly turned flattened end portion 76 of the tube to compress the same, shown in Fig.- 8 or" the drawings. From the positions shown in Fig. 8,'the jaws are moved to the positions shown in Fig. 4- by the action of the cams which control the oscillatory movements of the levers 60 and 61.

To prevent the turning lever 55 from turning too great an extent toward the right about its pivot at54c, the outwardly extendinp; projections are provided which normally, as shownin Figs. 2 and 3, are situated closely adjacent to the upper sides of theretaining plates t8but not quite in con tact therewith.

It will be seen that I have provided amachine of the character and for the purpose stated which comprises a minimum number of parts andthe construction of which is extremely simple. By reason of the'rel'atively small number of parts employed in its construction and by reason of the relationship between the said parts, the said machine is,

capable of operating speed.

Having thus described my invention, what efiiciently at unusual I claim and desire. to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a collapsible tube closing machine, the combination of reciprocating jaws, means for causing reciprocation.ofsaid jaws into and out of clamping relation with respect to each other. a slide secured upon one of Said j aws, a yielding means intermediate said slide and said jaw. anda'inember pivo tally connected to said slide for turning the flattened end of a tube first laterally and then downwardly, the said member having connection directly with the means for actuating the said slide and jaw. I

2. In a collapsible-tube closing machine,

able clamping jawsposcillatable lever havmg immediateconnection with one ot-sald pivotedniember-Ihaving connection with the jaws for causing reciprocation thereof; a

70, otherot' s'aid.jaws, and an oscillatable lejver.

having connection with said pivoted member and acting therethrougl'i tor causingrecip roc-ation of saidother jawf- 3 3. In a collapsible tube closing machine,

the combination 'otrlmembersadapted .to

clamp the rear: initially open end of acollapsible tube, to flatten the same. means for causing reciprocation of said members, one

of said members being'provided with a lever having pivotal 60111166 51011" therewith at point adjacent th'e outer end. of said lever,-

said 1 lever, being adapted to 'be moved longit-udinaHy'with respect to the Said "jaw,

means having connection with said pivoted lever for effecting reciprocation thereof-and also of thej aw to which; it is connected, and means for effecting pivotal movement of the said lever. r v I 4. 111a collapsible tube closing'machine,

the combination of clamping jaws, oscillating means having connection with one of said aws to causereciprocatlon thereof, a

pivoted lover, a yielding connection between V pivoted lever and the other or said jaws; and. oscillating means having connection with the said 'pivotedlever for causing re ciprocation thereof andot the said aw to whichit isconnected.

5. In a collapsible tube closing. machine, the combination or": reciprocating-jaws which are adapted to clamp the initiallyopen rear end or a collapsible tube to flatten the same,

means having connection with one of said jaws for causing. reciprocation thereof, a;

slide member secured upon the other. of said jaws. yielding means tending to hold the member in its outermostposit-ion, a lever having plvotal connection with the saidslide member. the inner eiid ot whichis adapted tocontact with the outer flattene'dend p01 v tion of the said tube to turn the same laterally and downwardly. and means having H connection with sa d lever for actuating the same together. with the said upoirwhich thesaid lever is mounted,v

6.- in collapsible tube closing machine."

the combination ot jaws whichare adapted to cooperate to clamp the initially, opened end ota collapsible tube tofiattengthe same;

havingconnection wlth r a camactuated lever one of said jaws for causing reciprocating movement theireohaslide member mounted upon. the other of said jawsa spring interposed between the said slide and the. saidjaw. whichtendsto hold the said slide inits outermost position'with respect to said ]t-W, a lever havingplvotal connectlon with the upper side of saidslideythe inner end of sald'lever terminating 1n a downwardly movements of one of said jaws, a slide member upon the other of said a tube turning member pivotally connected with the said slide member, n oscillating member iaving connection w said tube turning member at a point above connection with said slide member, means :lor limiting the inward mo v'ement or said second named jaw, and means r r therearter causing further inward movement of the said slide member and the lever carried hereby.

8; ln collapsible tube closing machine, the combination of reciprocating clamping jaws, means for moving the said jaws into clamping position and holding the same in such position for an interval of time with the flattened end of a tube held between the same, means adapted to be moved across the space between said jaws during' such interval to bend the projecting end of said flattened portion of tube laterally against the top surface of the end portion of one of said aws, means for thereafter moving said mentioned jaw outwardly away from the other aw which remains stationary and the said second named means then operating automatically to turn the previously turned flattened end portion of the tube downward and being thereafter returned to its original position means for returning said outwardly moved jaw to c mpress the said downwardly turned end portion of the tube against an adjacent portion of said tube, and means for thereafter movingboth said jaws away from each other. I

9. in a collapsible tube closing machine, the combination of clamping jaws, oscillatting levers for causing reciprocating movements said jaws toward and from each a spring pressed slide member mountone of said jaws, said slide member movable indeoendently' of said jaw, lever pivotally mounted on said slide memher and having pivotal connection with the oscillating lever for causing reciprocating; movements of the jaws on which said slide is mounted, said pivotally mounted lever eX- oth r, ed on tioned jaw and terminating in an inwardly and downwardly extending portion at its end, and means for causing and permitting inward movements of said slide member and said pivotal lever independently oi. the said jaw on which they are i unted and also for causing downward pivotal movement of the inner end of said lever.

10. In a collapsible tube closing machine, clamping jaws, a carrier for the tubes to be closed, means for causing step by step rotary movement of said carrier to convey 11 tbes successively between said jaws, means having connection with one of said jaws "for causing reciprocation of the same, slide member upon the other jaw, a yield ingmemb r interposed between said jaw and slide member to permit relative move- 1 nt between the two, a tube turning lever pivotally mounted on said slide member, and means having connection with. saidtube turning lever for effecting reciprocation of the said lever and the said slide with and independently of the said other jaw.

ll. In a collapsible tube closing; machine, the combination of reciprocating jaws which are adapted to clamp the initial open bottom end of a collapsible tube to flatten the same, means having connection with one of said jaws for causing reciprocation thereof, a slide member slidably secured upon the other of said jaws, a spring interposed between said sl' member and its supporting jaw which tends to hold the said slidemember in an outward position, a lever having pivotal connection with the upper side ofthe said slide member, the inner end of which lever is adapted to contact with the flattened bottom end of said tube for turning the sam and the opposite outer end of which is adapted to contact with the said slide member to limit pivotal movement of said lever in one direction, and oscillating means having connection with the said lever at a point above its pivotal connection to said slide member, the said oscillating means opj crating to cause reciprocating movements of the said slide member and its supporting jaw, and the said-spring operating after the said slide member has been moved to its innermost position and after withdrawal of the first mentioned j av to cause quick descending movement of the inner end of the said lever.

in testimony that I claim the foregoing as m invention, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23rd day of July 1921.

THOMAS L. HARRISON. 

